Minimum-facility platforms

Cost-efficient exploration of marginal fields is at the top of the agenda for many operators in the oil and gas industry. The cost-effective minimum-facility platform is a good alternative to the traditional wellhead platform or subsea installation. It is normally unmanned, and acts as a satellite with power, chemicals, utilities and controls being supplied by a host.

Lars Mogensen

Balaji Swaminathan

Director - Oil & Gas India

T: +91 44 4386 7000

Contact Balaji Swaminathan

Experts on minimum-facility platforms

The design of minimum-facility platforms is one of Ramboll’s core competencies. Since the 1980s, we have designed a significant number of minimum-facility platforms for such diverse environments as the Gulf of Mexico, the Arabian Gulf and the North Sea

Unmanned operation increases safety and reduces costs

By keeping the minimum-facility platform unmanned, we are reducing the risk to personnel while reducing costs. Robust equipment means fewer maintenance campaigns. This will keep OPEX down and also allow for alternative modes of access. Access via boat or telescopic gangway eliminates both costs and risks associated with helicopter access.

Minimalist topsides design with maximum return

All process facilities that are not required for transfer of well stream to the pipeline are eliminated. We call it the scaled-down topsides, characterised by:

Projects

Ramboll has assisted DONG Energy with a development project for modification of the Siri field in the North Sea, where we designed two lightweight and robust minimum-facility platforms, Nini and Cecilie.The two unmanned wellhead platforms operate as satellites tied back to the mother platform, Siri, via three inter-field pipelines. The water depth is approximately 60 metres.

The unmanned wellhead platform is a development concept under consideration for several licenses on the Norwegian continental shelf. Ramboll carried out a study for The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate pointing out pros and cons of the concept.

Unmanned minimum-facility platforms are a cost-effective alternative to subsea production systems. Statoil contracted Ramboll to carry out a study on an unmanned wellhead platform (UWP) for their Oseberg field.

As part of the Tyra field development in the Danish North Sea, operator, Maersk Oil, contracted Ramboll to assist with a number of engineering services for the design of the Tyra South East A platform. Tyra South East A came on stream in 2002.